The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-03-24

!" his weight ill the water almost iouchc
A. bis knees His exeriions had left him =
weak that he had not strength enough
10 hope for rescue. Onee he cssayed 10 sbon
"a but his voice vas as hoarse as the eroak I
q . frog How long he driited on Ra'
n never knew. Al last delightful sense I
a. drowsiness crept over him. Did some on
a call him, or were the boys cheering be
"a cause he had won the raceg II did no
"A matter much, for Rast had become indii
ferent 10 care.
q Having once accepted Chal as his com
a manier.in chief, Ned Crocker set out Il
execute his orders. The news spread rap
. pidly. but before the towusfolk wer'
aroused be had procured two good horses
/ and in company with Harry Mclean was
clattering over the bridge When the
report reached Deacon Hastings ears il
/ had assumed moro alarming proportions.
Rsgbag's version afforded some comfort.
aud when The little fellow said. consoling
, ~. Don't yon worry, deskin. something
or other'll bring Rast back; Rastll come
out all right deakin. cause he will,' tears
fell from the good mans eyes. and he
knelt and prayed to the only One who was
able to save his boy.
In the meantime Will Ransom had taken
his boat from her winter quarters and hur.
ried her away. The road leading from
the bridge to the foot OF the island was
soon alive with men in wagons and men on
foot, eager TO help in some way; but it was
poor at best. and seemed long time be-
fore the foremost carriages arrived at their
destination. Then huge fires were kin
died. and men with lanterns stationed
themselves along the beach. Ned and
Harry returned from voyage in rickety
dory but brought no news. The row boat
manned by four sturdy fishermen was
launched, and the rest OF the men gather.
ed in small groups. talking in low tones.
Was that cry from the river or the wind
sitting through the branches OF the pines?
There's the boat, exclaimed one.
keep quietr' commanded another, with |
a glance toward Deacon Hastings, "You
will hear the oars before you see her"
But soon others caught sight of some
dark object moving at little distance
from the shore, faint, yet growing more
distinct The figure glided silently into
the beach below, and each man condemned
himself for superstition when the voice of
Challis Gray was recognized. "Say, lend
q fellow hand. won't you?"
1t was a night of surprises; but there
was little room in the heart OF any for
aught but thanksgiving when Rast Hast
ings, alive but thoroughly exhausted, was
lifted from the bottom of Chsl's conoe.
Until late that night the Hastings bome-
stead was filed with guests, aud as steam
ing mugs OF the deacon's best Java went
around, Chal was prevailed npon to give ..
an acronui Of his adventures
After left The boys" he began. red
iNh'bS hu'fNt ~ RVe
canoe and started for the river. You Sc
felt as il ! Vas responsible for Rast some
now. II it hadn't been for me he'd never ;
lave tried TO speer that log at all. / didn't
iare go down the Narrows for fear OF get !;
ing smashed in, but the Tboroughfare was |,
clear, SO put in and pad !
lied of. l was just cutting across the I,
read Of the bay when | ran plump into the !,
ce cake that Rast was on, so pulled him !,
board and started for the shore. and +
hats all" !,
But those who cheered him till the
Id house shook and grasped him by the
and till he was glad to make his escape,
new that lie had told but very little Of
is dangerous trip. d
The boys bad gathered up stairs where Q
last, pale aud weak, was lying on his bed y
olding court Il tell you what, fel .
,ws, he was saying, as Chal opened tb G u
oor, II had good deal of time to think ol
ven on such short trip. Things look 10
ifferent when one isn't sure OF seeing day. o'
ght again. II Chal had padded few n'
rokes less or few strokes more II the %
urrent had carried me foot from the p'
lace where he found me -oh. II Q thou :"
md aud one things hadn't happened as "
iey did, shouldnt be here No. don't VI
y TO make hero OF me. | did very u
,ckless thing; Cnal, very noble one ~
10 you boys real u, - lie went on, alter =
loment'r panse, "shs. lime he must hay+
Isds TO paddle down the Th1roughfare
bon enough to meet me at the month OF "a
le Nsrrows? My best record will be no. yt
here D,sr old boy. drawing Chal to to
seat besi le him lit would be strange il ti'
wasn't proud TO own myself beaten by rS
ne who risked his life to save mine" er